Tannery Brook Preserve
Nature preserve
100 acres2.7 mi of trail
Crank CallRed Pine LoopTannery Trunk TrailBushwhack Loop+1
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the parking lot
Art Gallery · Photo: Patrick Higgins · CC BY-SA 3.0BOutdoors
Outdoors in Gorham
Gorham has 88 miles of mapped trails, 1.7 for every square mile of land
The biggest trail networks: Tannery Brook Preserve (2.7 mi), Nelson Preserve (1.9 mi), Little River Preserve (1.2 mi). 354 acres are parks and preserves, 19 per 1,000 residents. 38% of residents live within a half mile of a park.
Ahead of 63% of U.S. towns · #53 of 143 in Maine. What drives it
Conserved land
3%
850 acres · of 50.6 sq mi of land
Trails
88 mi
1.7 per sq mi of land
Park land
354 ac
19 acres per 1,000 residents
Near a park
38%
of residents within ½ mile
Bike routes
3.0 mi
3.0 mi paths
Highest peak
318 ft
Cressey Hill
Lakes & rivers
8
1 boat launch
What kind of outdoors town is Gorham?
Read from the map. The page puts what stands out first.
Outdoors grade
How much outdoors does Gorham have?
On conserved land, trails, park land and how close residents live to a park, Gorham is ahead of 63% of U.S. towns, #53 of 143 in Maine. Trail miles hold the grade up; the share of residents near a park pulls it down.
B
OutdoorsA character grade: shown, never part of Gorham’s overall grade.
Conserved land3% of the land · typical ME town 6% · U.S. 4%B−Trails1.7 miles of mapped trail per square mile of land (88 mi) · ME 0.7 · U.S. 0.4APark land19 acres of park per 1,000 residents (354 acres) · ME 15 · U.S. 13BParks close to home38% of residents within a half mile of a park · ME 30% · U.S. 72%C
All U.S. towns we grade (21,298)Ahead of 63%
LessMore
Maine towns of 2,500+ (143)Ahead of 63%
How sure. Graded on any three of the four inputs instead, the letter would range from C+ to B+. Trails and many small parks come from OpenStreetMap, mapped by volunteers, so coverage varies from town to town; the half mile is a straight line from each census block, so a river or highway in the way isn’t counted against it.
PAD-US, OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors), Census 2025 Gazetteer and 2020 blocks; details in Sources below. How TownRatings grades the outdoors →
The map
Conserved land, trails & bike routes
Tap a number to zoom to a park. Tap a layer to hide it.
Easements protect land from building but are usually private.© OpenStreetMap contributors · USGS PAD-US
Places to walk
Pick a walk
The longest trail network is Tannery Brook Preserve, with 2.7 miles. Directions go to the nearest trailhead or public parking.
Nelson Preserve
Managed by Presumpscot Regional Land Trust
37 acres1.9 mi of trail
Dogs allowed
Directionsto the trail signWebsite ↗
Little River Preserve
Managed by Presumpscot Regional Land Trust
29 acres1.2 mi of trail
Blue TrailWhite TrailRed Trail
Dogs allowed
Directionsto the trailheadWebsite ↗
Hawkes Preserve
Managed by Presumpscot Regional Land Trust
39 acres0.9 mi of trail
Great Falls TrailCumberland-Oxford Canal TowpathHawkes Loop ConnectorHawkes Loop Trail
Dogs allowed
Directionsto the trailheadWebsite ↗
Randall Orchards Preserve
Managed by Presumpscot Regional Land Trust
142 acres0.7 mi of trail
Dogs allowed
No trailhead mapped yetWebsite ↗
Sebago Lake Land Reserve
Managed by Portland Water District
71 acres0.5 mi of trail
Moose TrailBobcat TrailHorsetail Trail
Dog rules not recorded
Directionsto the trail signWebsite ↗
Gambo Preserve
Managed by Presumpscot Regional Land Trust
4 acres0.4 mi of trail
Cumberland-Oxford Canal TowpathGun Powder Mill Trail
Dogs allowed
Directionsto the trailheadWebsite ↗
Frazier Preserve
Managed by Presumpscot Regional Land Trust
10 acres0.3 mi of trail
Frazier Trail
Dogs allowed
Directionsto the trailheadWebsite ↗
All 22 parks & preserves
Tannery Brook Preserve100 acres · 2.7 mi of trail
DirectionsNelson Preserve37 acres · 1.9 mi of trail · Presumpscot Regional Land Trust
DirectionsLittle River Preserve29 acres · 1.2 mi of trail · Presumpscot Regional Land Trust
DirectionsHawkes Preserve39 acres · 0.9 mi of trail · Presumpscot Regional Land Trust
DirectionsRandall Orchards Preserve142 acres · 0.7 mi of trail · Presumpscot Regional Land Trust
Sebago Lake Land Reserve71 acres · 0.5 mi of trail · Portland Water District
DirectionsGambo Preserve4 acres · 0.4 mi of trail · Presumpscot Regional Land Trust
DirectionsFrazier Preserve10 acres · 0.3 mi of trail · Presumpscot Regional Land Trust
DirectionsCummings Preserve4 acres · 0.2 mi of trail · Presumpscot Regional Land Trust
DirectionsRobie Park8 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsUniversity of Southern Maine Hedges3 acres · 0.1 mi of trail
DirectionsSaint Pierre Preserve3 acres · 0.1 mi of trail · Presumpscot Regional Land Trust
DirectionsDeer Woods Preserve32 acres
Trout Run Preserve31 acres
West Sky Conservation Easement18 acres · Presumpscot Regional Land Trust
Perennial Place11 acres
Shaw Park9 acres
DirectionsFort Hill Park6 acres
DirectionsHeirloom Apple Orchard2 acres
DirectionsFuller Farm Preserve1 acres · Scarborough Land Trust
Joe B. Parks Rhododendron Garden1 acres
DirectionsGrassy Commons1 acres
DirectionsWho protects it
850 conserved acres
3% of Gorham’s land. Who manages Gorham’s conserved land, from the USGS Protected Areas Database. Approximate, because parcels can overlap.
Land trusts & nonprofits1,038 ac
Regional Water Districts69 ac
State fish & wildlife56 ac
Town or city40 ac
USDA easements (NRCS)14 ac
Joint14 ac
Not recorded145 ac
Conservation Easement · 636 acPrivate Conservation · 278 acAgricultural Easement · 156 acUnknown Easement · 145 acWatershed Protection Area · 69 ac
Good to know
Conserved doesn’t always mean open to visitors. 413 acres are conservation easements, usually private land. Public access isn’t recorded for 20 of 52 parcels. The walks above are places people visit.
The biggest protected parcels
| Parcel (PAD-US) | Managed by | Acres | Public access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Randall Orchard Private Agricultural | Not recorded | 142 | Unknown |
| Sebago Lake Land Reserve Watershed Protection Area | Regional Water Districts | 69 | Closed |
| Frog Hollow Farm Preserve Private Conservation | Land trusts & nonprofits | 61 | Closed |
| Hawkes-Towpath Preserve Private Conservation | Land trusts & nonprofits | 40 | Restricted |
| Nelson Preserve Private Other or Unknown | Land trusts & nonprofits | 37 | Restricted |
| Little River/Rivers Crossing Preserve Private Conservation | Land trusts & nonprofits | 30 | Restricted |
| Little Falls Recreation Area Local Park | Town or city | 18 | Open |
| Frazier Preserve Private Conservation | Land trusts & nonprofits | 10 | Restricted |
| Activity Center Local Park | Town or city | 7 | Open |
| Gorham Park Local Park | Town or city | 7 | Open |
5 smaller protected places aren’t shown.
Things to do
19 places to go in Gorham
Beaches, playgrounds, peaks, falls and more. Pick a kind.
Swimming spots in Gorham
1 swimming spot without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see it.
Playgrounds in Gorham
10 playgrounds without a name on the map. Tap “Show all on map” to see them.
Boat launches in Gorham
1 boat launch without a name on the map.
Peaks in Gorham
Cressey Hill318 ft elevation
DirectionsFort Hill308 ft elevation
DirectionsFort Hill285 ft elevation · In Fort Hill Park
DirectionsGotham Hill276 ft elevation
DirectionsSkunk Knoll269 ft elevation
DirectionsSmalls Hill243 ft elevation
DirectionsPleasant Ridge
DirectionsTrails & water
25 named trails and 8 lakes & rivers
Named trails
Open to bikes · 29.9 miHorses · 1.4 miUnpaved · 20.9 mi
Snowmobile ITS 898.1 mi
Connectivity1.5 mi
Cross Town Trail1.5 mi
Roaming1.4 mi
Unchained1.2 mi
Wildmen1.2 mi
17831.0 mi
Moody Blues1.0 mi
Louie Louie1.0 mi
Blue Doubletrack Loop1.0 mi
15 more trails
5G
1.0 miInto the Mystic
0.9 miFrazier Trail
0.9 miPasture Loop
0.9 miTow Path
0.8 miButtercup
0.8 miParty Line
0.7 miBurleigh Lovett Trail
0.7 miBlue Trail
0.7 miCrank Call
0.7 miMosher Brook Trail
0.7 miDeadzone
0.7 miWhite Flag
0.7 miPresumpscot River Trail
0.7 miBrickyard
0.6 miBiking & sports
3.0 miles of bike routes
Bike lanes are often missing from the map in smaller towns, so that number is likely low.
3.0 mi
off-road bike paths
Courts & fields
18Baseball
12Tennis
12Basketball
7Multi-sport
6Soccer
3Pickleball
2Lacrosse
2Tracks
Includes school and college facilities, which aren’t always open to the public.
History along the way
History →9 places on the National Register
The country’s official list of places worth saving (National Park Service). The map also marks 4 historic points from OpenStreetMap: plaques, memorials and old buildings.
McLellan HouseBuilding · listed 1972
About itArt GalleryBuilding · listed 1972
About itAcademy BuildingBuilding · listed 1973
About itGorham Campus Historic DistrictBuilding · listed 1978
About itBaxter HouseBuilding · listed 1979
About itStephen Longfellow HouseBuilding · listed 1984
About itSouth Street Historic DistrictDistrict · listed 1988
About itGorham Historic DistrictDistrict · listed 1992
About itIsaac E. Dyer EstateDistrict · listed 1998
About itWhen to get out
The best walking months in Gorham: May to September
NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals for the town and the daylight at its latitude. Outlined months have long days, highs of 59 to 86 °F and little rain for the place.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight (h) | 9.3 | 10.4 | 11.8 | 13.4 | 14.7 | 15.4 | 15.1 | 14.0 | 12.4 | 10.9 | 9.6 | 8.9 |
| High (°F) | 31 | 34 | 42 | 55 | 66 | 75 | 81 | 79 | 71 | 59 | 47 | 37 |
| Rain (in) | 3.5 | 3.5 | 4.2 | 4.5 | 3.8 | 4.5 | 3.7 | 3.6 | 3.9 | 5.3 | 4.5 | 4.6 |
February is the driest month (3.5 in) and July the warmest (highs of 81 °F). 5.3 inches fall in October, the wettest month. The climate in Gorham →
Next door
Gorham and its neighbors
Gorham has the most mapped trails of the 8 towns around it. Tap a town to see its outdoors.
Gorham88 miStandish63 miScarborough48 miWindham33 miWestbrook33 miBuxton19 miNorth Windham3.0 miLittle Falls2.6 mi
| Town | Conserved of land | Trail mi per sq mi | Park acres per 1,000 | Near a park ½ mile | Outdoors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gorham | 3% | 1.7 | 19 | 38% | B |
| Windham | 5% | 0.7 | 33 | 20% | B |
| Little Falls | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| North Windham | — not graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its town | ||||
| Buxton | 4% | 0.5 | 31 | 23% | B− |
| Standish | 17% | 1.1 | 35 | 12% | B+ |
| Scarborough | 20% | 1.0 | 28 | 32% | A− |
| Westbrook | 5% | 1.9 | 21 | 80% | A− |
The four inputs of the Outdoors grade, from the engine; shares are of land, not water.
Questions about parks and trails in Gorham
Where can I hike in Gorham?
The longest trail networks: Tannery Brook Preserve, 2.7 miles; Nelson Preserve, 1.9 miles; Little River Preserve, 1.2 miles; Hawkes Preserve, 0.9 miles. Each one is on the map above, with directions to the nearest trailhead or parking.
How much of Gorham is conserved land?
3% of its land, against a typical 6% for a Maine town and 4% nationally (PAD-US). Conserved doesn’t always mean open to visitors: easements are usually private land.
Are dogs allowed on Gorham’s trails?
OpenStreetMap records dogs as welcome at Nelson Preserve, Little River Preserve, Hawkes Preserve and Randall Orchards Preserve. For the rest, check the signs at the trailhead.
Where can I bike in Gorham?
3.0 miles of bike routes are on the map: 3.0 of off-road paths.
Is there public land near Gorham?
5,940 acres of parks and open public land lie inside Gorham or within 10 miles of it (PAD-US), 354 of them inside the town line.
How much outdoors does Gorham have?
Ahead of 63% of U.S. towns on the Outdoors grade, #53 of 143 in Maine. The grade combines the share of land that is conserved, miles of mapped trail per square mile of land, park acres per 1,000 residents and the share of residents within a half mile of a park. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.
Trail talk
Conditions, parking and favorite walks from Gorham neighbors.
Share a tip
Sources
Where this page comes from
Conserved and public land: USGS Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US), service updated July 2026. Parks, trails, playgrounds, beaches and other places: OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), map data as of 2026-10-28. Land and water area: Census 2025 Gazetteer. Residents near a park: 2020 Census blocks. National Register: National Park Service. How TownRatings grades the outdoors →